Hand in Hand

The piece is made of pine and cedar with the added elements of wood glue, twine and soapstone. The sculpture is of two hands, their only point of contact being the left one reaching out to grab the rosary wrapped around the wrist of the right hand. They go “Hand in Hand”. They are of the same person, yet they represent a differing in beliefs. The left wishes to break away where the right wishes to remain where it is in its religious viewpoints, creating a conflict the viewer can see.
The use of hands is a recurring theme with my current work. Hands are important and invaluable to a sculptor. Hands can also portray emotion, whether they are in action or at rest. The hand is a beautiful craftsman and in the instance of this piece, portrays a conflict of ideals and beliefs to the viewer using the hands of an unknown person.
My focus for this piece was the Rosary. Carved into soap stone beads and strung around the right wrist this symbolism holds the greater importance of this sculpture.There is conflict with this imagery. The right hand wants to hold on to something that is hurting it, strangling it with wire and twine, while the left hand tries to yank and break free of something that could very well hurt the person they are connected to. A representation of external and internal struggle on how the burden of religion has affected me.